Never any doubt

Haiku for the faithful.

Temptation stories:

will his mission be derailed?

Jesus is not swayed.

This devil fella,

who invited him into

these Gothic stories?

Angels and devils;

do they still make sense to us,

must we yet believe?

If you are God’s Son . . . ?

Great question! What quality

makes Jesus God’s child.

What makes me God’s child?

Is it that I am baptised,

or because I love?

The superpowers

hinted at in these stories;

will they capture him?

Or is he defined

by denial, declining

any privilege?

Refusing comfort,

and captive to his calling

he chooses his path.

Worship only God

and do what God requires.

The choice for us all!

 

© Ken Rookes 2020.

The mountain was high

Haiku of illumination

The mountain was high,

according to Matthew’s text.

Four friends made the climb.

Mystery mountain

cloaked in energy and light;

Jesus shining bright.

Moses, man of law,

talking with the carpenter

and comparing notes.

Prophet Elijah

enters the conversation,

gives his two-bob’s worth.

Jesus, fulfilment

of the law and the prophets.

Illumination.

Further approval

in the voice and shining cloud:

Listen to my Son!

Some who name him, Lord,

forget his command to love.

They will not listen.

Surpassing the Law

and greater than the prophets:

Jesus’ words of love.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Art Exhibition and FREE Studies!

The exhibition starts in three days!

The studies can be done any time, but it would be good to see the exhibition first!

For all you Christians who have nothing better to do in Lent!

But I say to you

Haiku for doing better

We need “shall-not” laws

to limit bad behaviour.

But that’s all they do.

You have heard it said.

All the shall-nots from the past

do not lead to love.

It is wrong to kill.

Ev’ryone knows that. We need

to deal with anger.

Violence has roots:

anger, abuse, injustice.

Act against these things.

Let love rule your hearts,

make your peace, be reconciled;

ev’rybody wins.

Try to be faithful,

and not just with your body;

with your mind as well.

Always speak the truth.

All should know your “yes” means “yes,”

and your “no” means “no.”

© Ken Rookes 2020.

Fulfilment

Haiku for followers

Sodium chloride,

commonly known as salt. What

to do without it?

Should salt lose its taste,

(an impossibility!)

it would be thrown out.

We are to be salt

imparting flavour and life

to an eager world.

Jesus came as light;

calling disciples to come

and reflect his life.

You too will be light

shining love into the dark.

Stand tall and shine bright.

He came to fulfil

the law, prophets; to correct

all the shortcomings.

Law has become dead,

none listen to the prophets;

hear what Jesus says.

In this present age

few listen to his teachings;

few there are who love.

They worship mammon

while the planet is burning.

They will not enter.

© Ken Rookes 2020